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The History of March Madness

For fans of basketball, March is an exciting time thanks to March Madness. During March Madness, college basketball teams play each other in a tournament to see who is the best. It is considered by many to be the most exciting playoff in sports. Learn a little more about this popular tournament, so you can help your association celebrate.

The Origin of March Madness

March Madness traces back to 1939, which is when the first NCAA men’s basketball tournament was held. In that tournament, the University of Oregon won against Ohio State University. Since that first tournament, the event has only grown in popularity. However, for the first 12 years, only eight teams were actually allowed to participate. By 2001, the tournament grew to 65 teams.

The Most Successful Team

Out of all the teams that have participated in the tournament, the UCLA Bruins are the most successful. Between 1964 and 1975, the team won 11 championships. The second most successful team (University of Kentucky) only won seven titles. The third most successful team is Indiana University at five wins.

The Most Outstanding Player

Whenever the tournament is over, the Most Outstanding Player is chosen. In many cases, the player who wins this award is good enough to earn a spot in the NBA. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor), for example, won the award three times while playing for UCLA in 1967, 1968 and 1969 before going on to play for the NBA.

Women’s Tournament

In 1982, the first women’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament was held. It began with 32 teams, but in 1994, it grew to 64 teams. Now, it has the same format as the men’s tournament, including a Final Four. The championship game is played the day following the men’s championship game, so it is actually the last game of the college basketball season. The most successful women’s team is the Tennessee Volunteers with six wins.

March Madness is a great opportunity to bring your community together. You can have your own bets amongst residents. When it reaches the Final Four, consider holding a viewing party in the clubhouse or another community area, so everyone can enjoy the games and snacks together.